Rescued by the Wolf (Blood Moon Brotherhood 2)

“Good.” Her hazel eyes gazed into his. “You have soulful eyes. They tell me what you won’t.”

“Oh?” he asked, waiting.

She nodded. “You worry about the Others. You worry about the pack. You want to be strong for them, to protect them.”

He shook his head. “I am strong. I—we will protect them. You and me and the rest of the pack.”

She smiled. “We.”

He nodded. “I don’t worry about that, or them. The only thing that scares me is losing you.”

She frowned, her hazel eyes searching his.

“I don’t deserve you, but I can’t let you go.” He studied her face. “I want to know every part of you. To make you happy, inside and out.”

Her smile was pure joy. “Wow.”

He shook his head.

“No, really, Mal.” She placed his hand over her heart. It was racing. “There’s no reason to be scared.”

He wrapped her up in his arms then, pulling her against his chest. He wanted to believe her. They were surrounded by the best security money could buy, and a big-ass pack of overprotective wolves to boot. But his fear wasn’t rational. He didn’t know what the fuck to do about it, except hold on to her.

He did, until she was sound asleep and pliant in his arms.

Even then, he held on, running long, slow strokes the length of her spine.

He should tell her about their plan. It was concrete. With Anders’s help, it would be an easy in and out—all about the intel. He might be tempted to let out a little aggression on Chase, but he wouldn’t. This wasn’t about teaching Chase he was a stupid motherfucker. This was about something bigger.

Every time he thought about Olivia in that cage, he wanted to fight. His time in that fucking basement had taught him to live in his head—a dangerous habit now. It was pointless to think about what might have happened if he hadn’t been there. She’d been so weak—too weak and human to defend herself. And if they’d managed to heal her, what then? Would she’d have been sold off to the highest bidder? Sure, she’d have settled Chase’s debt to Cyrus, but what sort of life would she have had?

Olivia rolled over in her sleep, a soft growl grounding him in the present.

She was here, safe and sound in his bed and his heart. He’d make sure she had her vengeance—God knew she deserved it.

She rolled again, growing more agitated.

He laid his hand on her shoulder, watching the rapid shift of emotions on her face. Her dreams weren’t peaceful, but she’d have to face them alone. “Kick their ass, Olivia. Let your wolf have some fun,” he whispered, wishing he were there to see it happen.

...

She was following someone. Tracking something. There were prints in the snow. Her wolf scented the air, searching, reaching until she found the den. It was silent, but she knew what was inside. Oscar and the baby. And Jessa, too.

She glanced at the fallen tree that shielded the entrance, made sure there was no trace of her pack to reveal their hiding place, then ran—not wanting to bring attention to the den. She ran until she came to a clearing.

The hair on the back of her neck bristled at the howl that split the air. The white wolf was in front of her—teeth bared, blood staining his chest and nose, and near-colorless eyes fixed on her. There was blood on the snow. So much blood. There were more wolves behind Cyrus, many more. They watched her from the dark of the tree line, silent and ready.

If she fought, she’d have to win.

If she lost, the pack would be on her.

She charged at the white wolf, baring her teeth and tackling him. There was shock in his eyes, giving her the advantage. Instinct took over, lethal and swift. Before the wolf could regain his footing, she’d ripped his throat out. She stood over the body, pulsing with adrenaline. She threw her head back and howled over and over.

Her eyes popped open. She felt so awake and exhilarated she almost woke Mal. But the sight of him sound asleep and snoring on the pillow next to her made her pause.

Everything in her life was irrevocably changed. And, bizarre or not, she was happy for the first time in…maybe ever. Knowing her father was a mastermind criminal muted whatever positive childhood memories she had. And her brother’s willingness to sacrifice her for himself wasn’t exactly pleasant, either.

Unlike Mal.